Classical Pilates in Worcester Massachusetts

Listen to Your Body

Our bodies are pretty resilient, in fact they are often stronger than we think or give them credit for. It is often our minds that let in fear and doubt that prevent our bodies from showing just how strong they can be. However, there are those times that are bodies speak to us and say “Hey, something is not right here”. The body tells us this through pain.

Whenever we are feeling pain, it is our job to stop and listen to what the body is saying. It is time to pay attention to our bodies in this moment and to say “I see you!”, “I hear you!” This is not the time to push through, adopt a “no pain, no gain” attitude or to think “I’ll rest when I’m dead”. No…this is the time to really to listen to your body, to not push forward but to back off and take some rest.

Recently, I did something to my back that was causing me a great deal of pain. I listened to my body and decided to take a few days of rest. When I felt that I was feeling better, I knew that then was the time to get back to my Pilates practice. But it had to look differently. This is one of the things that I love about Pilates. It is smart movement that truly links mind and body together.

Our Pilates practice can look different from day to day, depending on what our bodies are telling us. Maybe instead of strength, we focus more on stretch or stability. We slow down and take our time through the movement. Slowly and smoothly = Contrology. Maybe we pick just one of the Pilates Principles such as Breath or Concentration and make those the focus of our workout for that day.

Our bodies are a precious gift and we need to take care of them. Sometimes we just want to move, but we need to listen to our bodies and meet them where they are in that moment. Check in with your body and see what comes up before, during and after your workout. Take care of your body and it will continue to take care of you.